Rex Chapman: Compare Tyler Herro to players of all races - not just white

After Nick Richards' breakout performance in the Bahamas opener, assistant coach Kenny Payne is calling for even more production from the sophomore.
Jon Hale, Louisville Courier Journal

Tyler Herro skies for a dunk in the Kentucky men's basketball team's win over the Bahamas National Team at the Atlantis Imperial Arena in Paradise Island, Bahamas, on Wednesday, August 8, 2018.(Photo: Chet White | UK Athletics)

After leading Kentucky with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting in a win over San Lorenzo de Almagro, Herro acknowledged he hears the comparisons. Chapman’s comparison appears to hit closest to the mark with Herro confirming Booker was one of several players he studied when crafting his own game.

Regardless of which former Wildcat Herro most closely resembles, it’s clear Herro’s cannot be pigeonholed into the “shooter” reputation he carried as a recruit.

Against the Bahamas national team, Herro missed all three of his 3-point attempts but still contributed 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting. He showed off leaping ability that rivaled his more highly touted freshman classmates on multiple fast-break dunks.

“I think I’m more than a shooter,” Herro said after the game. “I think I displayed that a little bit tonight.”

Against San Lorenzo, Herro's dunking ability wowed the crowd again, but he also hit 4 of 5 3-point attempts.

“His game was more drive and pull-up (in high school),” UK coach John Calipari said. “He shot some threes and shot them OK, but it was more of a pull-up game. Our thing is getting him to get to the rim.”

It’s difficult to find an area to criticize Herro’s performance during the first half of the Bahamas tour.

Like most of his classmates, Herro’s defense remains a work in progress, and while his ceiling might not quite be as high in that facet as fellow wing Keldon Johnson, the effort has been evident.

“He’s just an all-around player,” sophomore forward Nick Richards said. “He’s one of those guys, he makes the right decision on the court. He makes the right cut when he needs to, he makes the right shot. He’s really skillful with the ball, he can really pass it.”

Herro came off the bench for the first two games of the Bahamas tour and despite leading UK in scoring thus far is still expected to do so when the regular season starts.

Practicing against Johnson, a possible 2019 lottery pick, every day should continue to elevate his game regardless of whether he starts or not.

“It was crazy a couple days ago they were at it,” freshman point guard Ashton Hagans said. “Everything (Herro) does at practice, he brings it here. Tyler's the one that’s in the gym late at night; 12 o’clock, going on 2 o’clock, he’s still in the gym.”

It’s that work ethic that has Kentucky coaches convinced there is even more to come from Herro.

“Very much the tip of the iceberg,” UK associate head coach Kenny Payne said. “Before he leaves this program, he’s going to be a complete offensive player and also a complete defensive player.”

Herro has rapidly become a fan favorite.

While shooting a free throw in the win over the Bahamas national team, Herro was serenaded by a fan singing the opening line of Enrique Iglesias’ 2001 hit “Hero.” Each Herro fast-break dunk or 3-pointer was met with perhaps the loudest cheers of the first two games from the UK fans in the Bahamas.

Perhaps it’s no surprise then that comparisons continue to be made between him and Chapman, one of the most beloved players in program history who scored more than 1,000 points in two seasons at UK before a 12-year NBA career.

Payne understands some of why the two have been linked — “They’re both bouncy, they both can really shoot the ball” — but UK coaches have gone out of their way to slow the hype for Herro in the Bahamas.

“Tyler has to be Tyler Herro,” Payne said. “What that means is he has to be the best version of him.”

“Tyler can jump and do that, but Rex was unique,” Calipari said. “And Rex ended up being special. Maybe in time that may be the case, but right now let him just be Tyler.”

It’s a message that has resounded with Herro.

If he follows his early trajectory, all comparisons may be moot, regardless of skin color.

“It’s still early in the season, it’s still a lot of work to do,” he said. “Just focusing each and every day on getting better and creating my own legacy.”